Rockley looks to the future

Welcome to our first Rockley newsletter for 2015.
The year is well and truly underway for our family and ,Rockley Brahmans.
On the upside our properties, Rockley, Cedars and Ungarra and our cattle have enjoyed a terrific start to the year with an abundance of feed and a strong cattle market to complement.

Ashley headed north in early February to Charters Towers for the one of the premier Brahman sales of the calendar, the annual Big Country Sale.
“Big Country was very strong and a great confidence bulider for the breed. The trip doubled as a great opportunity to catch up with fellow breeders and to view a great line up of red and grey bulls. I for one cetainly hope for those that have missed out the wet season that it’s istill on it’s way and there’s further falls for those fortunate enough to have had a start”, Ashley said. Adding “ We’ve been relatively sheltered here in central Queensland from the dry and have really been feeling for those struggling in other parts of the state”.

Rockley had announced that the stud will re-enter the sale ring at the 2016 Big Country Sale. Ashely expanded on the annoucement by saying “ We’re extremely excited with the announcement, we’re really looking forward to being “back in the game”, it’s been a long road back for the family and the stud, I’m sure it shows that we’ve remained committed to the seed stock business”. “ During that time we’ve worked extremely hard to retain our genetics and have produced roughly 50 IVF calves since the rebuilding process began, we’re ecstatic with our first JDH Stratton calves, they’ll be offered at the 2016 Brahman Week Sale”.

Ashley has made the decision to re-join Brahman Group Breedplan. After dropping out several years ago and with the Rockley herd having to start from scratch, he saw it as an opportunity for potential buyers and the prefix to utltize another selection crtieria when selecting and comapring Rockley genetics. The operation has not lost sight of the need for a strong focus on physical attributes and still adheres to their strict selection and culling programme.

Rockley, Bajool came through Tropical Cyclone Marcia relatively well. Chris and his two offsiders (Steven and David Elliot) have been busy clearing trees off fence lines and fixing creek crossing. We were very fortunate to come away without serious structural damage while the Cedars and Ungarra received lovely soaking rain. Much of central Queensland has suffered in the wake of Marcia and it is certainly an event we don’t wish to happen again.

Chris and our commercial cattle agent, Darren Kent, North Burnett & Callide (NBC) recently travelled to Water Fall Feedlot, Goomeri to monitor the progress of our bullocks on feed. We recently sold 50 head into the EU grassfed market with the remaining 100 being fed for 118 days for the EU grainfed market. These bullocks will be processed at Warwick Abattoir. Commenting on the bullocks, Chris said “ It’s a real testament that our quality , high grade, high content, smooth coated Brahmans carry meat are doing extremely well in a grain fed situation. They’re are our best group of steers to date, ordinarily they’d be retained as bulls. These’ll easily meet both EU and meet market specifications”.